Apparently Lakers Won't Make Playoffs Next Season

<div class="quote_poster">Bacon Smeller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers can easily beat Utah with our roster. Maybe houston too but I really think the Lakers can do something</div>

I don't think any post season matchup is going to be easy for the Lakers. Utah, Dallas, or Denver are probably the three teams we could handle in a 7 game series.

Houston is loaded this year, they've arguably had the best offseason in the Western Conference.

 

I agree with what Brian said a few pages back. Its probably good for the Lakers to not make the playoffs so management will wake up and actually make some changes. Phil Jackson's probably abandoning this pile after the season and going to Boston anyway. The problem is if they commit to rebuilding Kobe will definitely want out, right now they're pretending like they still want to win and making people wait for big moves but nothing is getting done.

If they miss the POs, fans in an uproar, maybe they finally do commit to rebuilding because they're getting nowhere right now riding Kobe to a low playoff seed and being embarrassed in the POs every year.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't get caught up with the Warriors' hype. They got hot at the right time, and playing against a team that they exposed a weakness. Though, I blame that partly on the Mavs. They're over confident and too arrogant, thinking they can walk through the Warriors easily. Giving a second chance, I'm not sure the Warriors can beat the Mavs again. Also the Warriors run and gun game won't be as effective as the Suns, simply because they have no outside shooter to spread the floor. Baron, Stephen, Pietrus, Ellis, they're all streaky shooter. It would be interesting to see what happens when their shots aren't falling. Also they're losing possibly their 2nd best go-to-guy J-Richardson, I don't see how they can make the playoff again.</div>

We definitely matched up well with the Mavs and got lucky in that respect but no way in hell do the Mavs beat us again. We completely and utterly dominated them for the last two years, our coach built that entire team from the ground up, all those players are his picks and he knows how they operate. Plus he taught Avery everything he knows. Lets not forget that they have no answer for Baron, why would that be any different now? And Jackson will still completely own Nowitzki, why would that be any different now? We would still run their centers off the floor and forced them to play Dirk at C, they've been looking for a mobile, smaller PF/C type to play in a running game this offseason but have nothing so far. That series wasn't even close, the Warriors blew game 5 in the last two minutes becuase they got lazy so in game 6 they came out and ran them out of the building to put them away. Should have probably been a 4-1 series, plus we're 10-3 overall against them in the last 2 years (two of those losses were in the PO series).

The 3 point shooting was a concern of mine as well going into this offseason but Belinelli looks like a fuggin dagger thrower and Nelson already said in the media how he trusts him now more than he ever did J-Rich. Dude was hitting insane Ray Allen/Kobe type fading 3 pointers, off of curls going top speed, running the break, catching and nailing a 3 while his momentum is still going forward. Just imagine when Baron is dishing to him and the defense is focused on Monta, Baron, Jackson, etc. We also still have Harrington who was among the league leaders in 3 point shooting. It looks like one of Barnes or Pietrus are coming back and they can shoot as well. J-Rich just wasn't that big of a loss. He was an awkward fit with Nellie, basically just a role player since he couldn't penetrate or handle the ball well. His heart and rebounding will be missed but outside of that he was basically a spot up 3 pt shooter in Nellie's offense.

I can understand people not buying into the hype with the Warriors. They did have to go on a crazy run to get into the POs after being in a big hole, 9-1 to end the season to get into the POs on the last day. If theres one thing they have going for them its that their style of play is suited for the regular season. Run and gun teams can rack up wins easily even though in a 7 game series the slower, more physical teams would often win.